Miles Davis Story

Starring:George Avakian, Ian Carr, Don Carter (II), Ron Carter, Jimmy Cobb, Chick Corea, Bill Evans (XI), Herbie Hancock, Dave Holland (VI), Shirley Horn, Keith Jarrett, Dave Liebman, John McLaughlin, Marcus Miller, Clark Terry, Bob Weinstock, Joseph Zawinul, Jack de Johnette
Studio: Sony
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com
Trumpeter-bandleader Miles Davis (1926-91) was a catalyst for the major innovations in post-bop, cool jazz, hard-bop, and jazz-fusion, and his wispy and emotional trumpet tones were some of the most evocative sounds ever heard. He was also one of the most identifiable and misunderstood pop icons of the 20th century. This engrossing British documentary shows the complex layers of this magnificent and mercurial artist. Through rare footage and interviews, we learn of Davis's middle-class upbringing and his early days with bop legends Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. The documentary bluntly deals with Davis's narcotic nadir and his rise from the depths to become a bona fide jazz icon in the mid-'50s to late '60s. But the most penetrating and poignant portraits of Davis come from musicians who played with and were influenced by him, including Shirley Horn, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, and Keith Jarrett.

Amazon.com

Trumpeter-bandleader Miles Davis (1926-91) was a catalyst for the major innovations in post-bop, cool jazz, hard-bop, and jazz-fusion, and his wispy and emotional trumpet tones were some of the most evocative sounds ever heard. He was also one of the most identifiable and misunderstood pop icons of the 20th century. This engrossing British documentary shows the complex layers of this magnificent and mercurial artist. Through rare footage and interviews, we learn of Davis's middle-class upbringing and his early days with bop legends Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker. The documentary bluntly deals with Davis's narcotic nadir and his rise from the depths to become a bona fide jazz icon in the mid-'50s to late '60s. But the most penetrating and poignant portraits of Davis come from musicians who played with and were influenced by him, including Shirley Horn, Herbie Hancock, Joe Zawinul, and Keith Jarrett.

Outstanding musical selections include modal masterpieces "So What" and "Blue in Green," the haunting soundtrack to the 1957 French film Ascenseur pour l'échafaud, his romantic rendition of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," and his collaborations with arranger Gil Evans. The most surprising aspects of Davis's personality that emerge from this film are his shyness, vulnerability, and, yes, humility. As he said himself, "Don't call me a legend. Call me Miles Davis." --Eugene Holley Jr.

Customer Reviews:

More music would be nice........2007-05-26

This is a fine biography, but like most biographys of artists it has too little of the artists work and too much focus on the people around the artist.
And in the "You can't depend on Google" department, the song "Time After Time" that Miles recorded is credited in the Amazon review to Cyndi Lauper. She did write a song with that title, but "Time After Time" is a jazz standard written by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne that first appeared in the 1947 movie "It Happened in Brooklyn", long before Ms Lauper was born.

The Man and very little horn.......2007-02-27

Rather than focus on what it is not I prefer to focus on what it is; a documentary that utilizes people from Miles Davis life and Miles himself to comment on his eclectic life. I for one found it interesting to hear his ex-wives and fellow musicians making commentary on the lives and times of Miles. It is pretty funny listening to everyone tell stories in mock wispy Miles voice; it seems as though everyone tries to imitate his throat box whisper. The sequence of events are interesting as everyone recalls what he was like at a given point in time. Most interesting of all is Miles telling his own story as he tells little stories about different parts of his life.It is a shame there is not more music but when there is it is amazing. It is especially amazing to see the events of his life unfold in conjunction with the music. The various phases of his life are covered in depth and the pace is fast enough to keep you invloved throughout the disc. The narrative speakover is typical of documentaries in that it grabs you and demands you to pay attention. The musical snippets are brief but the story is well told. The concert material is worthwhile although not nearly long enough. The fusion period is very captivating both as a story and as performance.If you are into Miles Davis you will like having this added to your collection. It is a part of the total picture that will help make your collection complete.

No Cigarette, are you kidding?.......2007-01-10

How can you trust anything as factual when the picture on the cover is altered? Where's the famous cigarette and smoke column? Of course we all know that Apple made the changes for their ad compaign many years ago. But, to actually use the "politically correct" image rather than the real one is beyond description. The producers should have used another image and the fact they didn't has got to be reflective of the rest of the DVD. I haven't seen the DVD, and won't simply because of the insult on the cover.

a good overview, but..........2006-04-12

as a doc, it's pretty pedestrian; has a made-for-tv feel; however, the information, the chronology is useful.

a lot of self-serving interviews, and a little flat overall.

still, worth watching, just to see miles grow, change, explore.

the 80's stuff is sad (to me); but it is amazing that miles bounced back at all.

hopefully, someone will make that great movie about his life (as there is at least one film "in development" currently).

Very informative!.......2005-11-10

I agree with the reviewers that commented that this DVD is NOT A CONCERT, it is a DOCUMENTARY. It covers the various decades of Miles' life and the evolution of his music. Many facts that I didn't know about the man and his music are covered here. Did you know he was supposed to collaborate with Jimi Hendrix before he died? WOW! Very entertaining and still leaves a certain mystique surrounding the man with the horn. Very insightful interviews with his sidemen as well (Hancock, Jarret, DeJohnette, Corea, Zawinul, Liebman).

Trust me, if you primarily want to see Miles' in concert buy "Miles Electric: A different Kind of Blue", I highly reccomend it. If you want to know more about Miles' life and his ifluences as well as the people he influenced and his place in jazz as well as music history this is the movie to buy.

Average customer rating:

A Must See !!!!
Phenomenal performance of a powerful man
This is an amazing movie.....
GREAT FILM- AWFUL DVD

A Huey P. Newton Story
Starring: Roger Guenveur Smith , Malcolm X , William F. Buckley , Huey P. Newton , and Fred Williamson
Director: Spike Lee
Manufacturer: Urban Works
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

General | Documentary | Genres | DVD | Video

General | African American Cinema | Genres | DVD | Video

DVDs Under $14.99 | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

All Deals | Today's Deals in DVD | Special Features | DVD | Video

( H ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video
Similar Items:

The Spook Who Sat by the Door
Education of Sonny Carson (Ws)
The Huey P. Newton Reader
Get on the Bus
Melvin Van Peebles' Classified X

ASIN: B0000EMYBQ
Release Date: 2004-01-13

Description

A Huey P. Newton Story is an intimate portrait of Huey P. Newton, the late co-founder of the Black Panther Party. Director Spike Lee and Roger Guenveur Smith collaborate for the 7th time to bring Newton's thoughts, philosophies, history and flavour to life. Adapted from Robert Guenveur Smith's Obie Award winning off- Broadway solo performance of the same name, Spike Lee brings the play from the stage to the screen as only he could. Shot before a live audience, Spike Lee uses his signature mixture of film and archival footage, to capture Newton's "inner mind." The film is complemented by period material and original compositions from sound designer Marc Anthony Thompson, who received an Obie and Audelco Award for his work. Accompanied by an outstanding performance, starring and written by Roger Guenveur Smith, Nominated for two NAACP Image Awards and for winning the Peabody Award. This film is a piece of history that will bring the meaning to "Without Struggle There is No Life".

Customer Reviews:

A Must See !!!!.......2006-04-30

Even if you don't know anything about the Black Panthers or could care less about the Black Panthers, you should still see this movie. I must admit that before this film I was mostly uninterested in the Black Panthers. After seeing this movie I could not wait to read Revolutionary Suicide. The portrayal of Dr. Huey P. Newton in the film by Roger Guenveur Smith is like no other. It is captivating and spellbinding and most importantly it is inspiring to see an actor be so committed to a character. For the most part, I am usually unaffected by movies and I rarely would rate a movie this high, but this is an exception. If you have not seen this film you must see it. To date, this is the most incredible thing I have seen. See it immediately.

Phenomenal performance of a powerful man.......2006-04-09

If you do not know who Roger Guenveur Smith is, and somehow don't recognize him from other Spike Lee joints, then this piece will introduce you to an amazing actor. An amazing actor. An amazing performance. Granted, this is translated from the stage to the cinema, but it is quite affecting in expressing the character that was Huey P. Newton, and his explosive personality and his intellect. As great a character as Newton is, Guenveur Smith's intense and deeply expressed performance outdoes the imagery, the music, even the text. As an actor, this is a master class in deep and committed artistry.

This is an amazing movie............2005-07-18

I don't know much about Huey P. Newton at all. Up to the point when i seen this movie, if you told me the mans name I would have had no idea who he was, but now I do. I saw this movie the first time on tv. I was channel surfing and I came across this movie. After watching it for a sec. I could not turn the channel. Roger Guenveur Smith is absolutly wonderful in this movie. I was blown away. Such passion in his acting. I still don't know much about Huey P. Newton, but watching this movie has changed my perspective on what the Black Panthers were all about. Check this movie out. Its amazing......

GREAT FILM- AWFUL DVD.......2004-02-05

I reviewed this befroe and they would not put it up, why? I did not cuss, I merely suggested that something was quite foul smelling with the way this man is STILL being treated. I suggested that Spike Lee, could of sold his basketball tickets for the dough it would cost to at least put some chapter stops on this DVD. American wedding,the movie with all the white folks in it gets audio commentary, six documentaries,16 page booklet. But make a film about Huey Newton, and you get no booklet, no chapter stops, no biography, or documentaries. You could of jammed this DVD with hours of documentaries, and t.v. appearances that HUEY did but NO! Not even CHAPTER STOPS, poor huey.

Average customer rating:

The Miles Davis Story

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

Product Description

The Miles Davis Story (2006 issue UK Region 0 PAL DVD featuring a documentary originally produced for Channel 4 and includes sought-after footage of performances Miles put on film throughout the years, interviews with many of the legendary musicians who shared a stage with Miles and live performance footage plus BONUS MATERIAL including key album profiles and biography, presented with new artwork!)

DVD:

DVD

DVD

DVD

Ifm the Independents 4 Movie Set

Last King

Miracle at Moreaux (REGION 1) (NTSC)

DVD: Moon Stalker

Prince And The Pauper